Mets: Brodie Van Wagenen tenure gets stranger each day

New York Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen missed on a lot of off-field decisions this winter. Now, we’re learning he’s making some bad calls in the game. Every day is stranger than the last.

Can you believe Brodie Van Wagenen has been the New York Mets general manager for less than a year? Only about 340 days ago, he was super-agent of Jacob deGrom, proclaiming loudly that the team should either sign him to an extension or trade him. Only months later he became the general manager. Ever since, he has made an army of questionable decisions.

This week, a leaked source claims he’s running far more than we knew. During the team’s trip to Arizona, it was Van Wagenen from his home who contacted the Mets about removing deGrom from a game. deGrom went public with how upset he was and manager Mickey Callaway took the heat for the decision.

If true, this confirms something many baseball fans have feared. GMs are getting more and more powerful. They’re playing a game of Extreme Strat-O-Matic from home. It’s like a Choose Your Own Adventure with real people. I know Netflix’s Bandersnatch episode thought they took things to a new level. Van Wagenen has passed even their innovative programming.

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Just a few days ago the Mets were a few outs from taking 3 out of 4 from the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The offense was on fire. Jeff McNeil was making an even stronger case for the All-Star Game. Pete Alonso was tying then breaking records.

Then came the decision to leave Seth Lugo in the game rather than turn to closer Edwin Diaz. As many have speculated, the innings limit on Diaz is likely a call from the front office. Callaway has gotten caught in the lies he is supposed to tell. Between this and whether or not Amed Rosario practicing shagging flyballs to other moments in 2019, the Van Wagenen Era is getting stranger every day.

This is beginning to feel like the classic episode of The Simpsons when Lyle Lanley sells Springfield on building a monorail. A homage to The Music Man, it’s about a mysterious figuring coming to town and selling falsehood. Sound familiar?

An offseason battle cry of “Come get us” was a boastful proclamation from the rookie general manager which had many questioning already how much he believed in his own team’s abilities. We all knew this team could be better. Like a fool, I bought in that anything was in fact possible.

The Mets aren’t finished in 2019. They’re not trash or a team fans who have been loyal to for many years should discard. In fact, the Wild Card is well within their reach. If not for a great stretch by the Atlanta Braves recently, the division would be possible, too.

The one factor which will limit this team is how powerless the manager is. Callaway is not great at his job, but you better believe BVW isn’t much better at his or the one he’s controlling: the in-game managing.

Sports is about two things: winning and entertainment. Off the field, at least, the Mets are giving us one of those.

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Now imagine Brodie Van Wagenen dressed as a gladiator at Citi Field, turning on the mound quoting Maximus, “Are you not entertained?” We are but only the same way a circus or trainwreck on television gives us pleasure.